All posts tagged Pensacola

Many, many thanks to Darlene for inviting me over today to talk about Surf Break, my story based on Pensacola Beach, a place we both love. I decided to share a favorite cocktail that Pensacola is famous for (now, gramatically, I should say, “for which Pensacola is famous”, but dang, that sounds formal, doesn’t it?) Anyhow, you didn’t come here for an English lesson, did you? Heck no, bring on the drink recipe, Jillian, you evil soul, you.

Okay, okay – here’s the recipe- This is the standard recipe for a Bushwacker but I kind of like adding some Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum (doesn’t hurt that the Captain in the commercials is a hottie) and maybe a banana (for the nutritional value,of course).

Ingredients:

2 0z Coffee Liqueur

1 oz dark rum

1 oz Creme de Cacao

4 ozs half and half

4 oz coconut cream

Vanilla ice cream (3-6 ozs depending on how strong you want it)

Pour all into a blender. Add two cups of ice and blend til mixed. Serve in tall glass.

And there you go, a Bushwacker. Watch out, they sneak up on you since you think you’re drinking a milkshake.

My hero in this story, Pete, is a cop who tells the heroine he’s going to work security at a Bushwacker Festival being held at club on the beach. I couldn’t very well write a Pensacola Beach story without a Bushwacker, could I? After all, I could be hauled out of town on a stick for that.

I hope you enjoy your Bushwacker and maybe curl up with my lil ole story while you drink it.

Blurb: Her past life as a professional surfer comes back to the fore when Juliette Mackey spends her summer break surfing the Gulf of Mexico. She left the pro-circuit when her former husband broke her heart. Returning to her beach roots, she signs on to work part time at a local burger joint to have the funds to rent a cottage on the shore. While working there, she meets a local cop named Pete Schwartz who is determined to let the world know about her surfing skills and force the younger crowd to acknowledge her gifts.

Attracted to Pete but wary of risking her heart again, Juliette resists Pete’s advances and wants no part of his plans to have her display her surf skills. It’s a battle of wills that Pete is determined to win. More importantly, he’s on a mission to break the wall Juliette has built around her heart.

The news this morning brought pictures of oil on Pensacola Beach. It’s horribly sad. We’ve been known for having the world’s whitest beaches. It’s a beautiful beach and truly a tragedy to have these beautiful pristine beaches ruined. Let’s all continue to pray that BP, the government, someone will find an answer to stop this before it gets any worse.

Very sad to see isn’t it. Thanks to the Pensacola News Journal for this photo. Check them out for full coverage of the impact of the oil spill on our beaches and city at www.pnj.com

Last night 35 registered teams 638 pre-registered participants (along with other friends, families and supporters) gathered together at Tate High School to Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back. The event ended very early due to bad weather but, we Celebrated our Survivors with a Survivor lap. Cheering on the Survivors as they take the first lap around the track is an awesome experience. It’s a little bittersweet as you think of all they have endured and those you wish could be walking that lap too come to mind, but seeing the victory is truly sweet. We did have time to Remember the luminaria may have not been lit but we saw the names of those being Remembered, we shared the stories of those dear people we had lost. And boy oh boy did we fight back. Funds were raised. We fought the elements. Our clothes and stuff may have been dampened but our spirit and determination were not. We will continue to raise funds and look forward to Relaying next year. Relay for Life is an overnight event because Cancer never sleeps. Cancer also doesn’t stop for rain and neither will our efforts. We already have a plan to begin fundraising for Relay 2011 using the leftover food and goodies from last night. To all my St. Luke Relay Family, I love you all, God has blessed us more than I can tell you and each of you is very special to me and Wesley.